Today’s blog was written by FVTU Board member Michael Day. Mike is a newer member of our BOD and Co-Chairman of our Conservation Committee. -FVTU Editorial Board
Let Nature Take Care of Nature
Our current climate of staying home and social distancing due to COVID-19 has brought about seemingly amazing consequences to the natural world around us. There are abundant reports of how the world has improved. Pollution has diminished in China and New Jersey. Why China's Air Has Been Cleaner During The Coronavirus Outbreak, Lauren Sommer (2020) (https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/03/04/811019032/why-chinas-air-has-been-cleaner-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak) and N.J.'s Air Is The Cleanest It’s Been Since 9/11 Due To Coronavirus Shutdown, Michael Sol Warren and J. Dale Shoemaker (2020) (https://www.nj.com/coronavirus/2020/04/njs-air-is-the-cleanest-its-been-since-911-due-to-coronavirus-shutdown.html). Many additional animals roam wild in Yosemite. Coyotes, bobcats and bears: Wildlife is reclaiming Yosemite National Park, Susanne Rust (2020) (https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-13/yosemite-national-park-closed-wildlife-waterfalls-muir). How has this happened? What unique things have we done? Nothing. We merely got out of the way and allowed nature to take care of nature.
Should this make us rethink our fish stocking policies? Are we really improving our waterways through stocking? Are we introducing genetically inferior fish? Should bodies of water simply exist to support recreational angling? Or do we have a larger obligation to preserve our heritage and the world that has provided for us, and in doing so, should we just get out of the way?
Stocking is used for a variety of reasons, from recreation to restoration. Unfortunately, for many reasons, stocking has been problematic. Non–native stocked fish compete with and prey upon native fish. Fish-Stocking Reform, Center for Biological Diversity (Retrieved 2020) (https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/fish-stocking_reform/index.html). Further, stocked fish alter the natural ecosystem thereby jeopardizing native fish populations. Id. Stocking has also resulted in the spread of disease. Id. In particular, a study in Virginia found that some brook trout had an infectious disease where there was a history of stocking. Stocking Lakes with Fish, Ecozine (2014) (https://hmdecozine.com/2014/03/17/stocking-lakes-with-fish/). And in Wisconsin, a number of fish species were revealed to have lymphocytis from stocking walleye. Id. Indeed, Trout Unlimited has taken the policy position not to stock non-native hatchery trout over native trout. Guidance Document for NLC Resolution on Stocking Non-Native Hatchery Trout Over Native Trout Populations, Trout Unlimited (2011).
Connecticut enjoys a unique history of native fish, for example, Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) and Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Perhaps our focus should shift from supporting angling pressure to supporting our native fish, and in doing so, perhaps we should just get out of the way.